You may not know it, but if you buy something from someone hawking it at your doorstep, or at a booth at a carnival or similar event, you can cancel your purchase within three days, no questions asked.

It's known as the "cooling off rule," designed to give consumers a chance to reconsider in case you fell prey to a bully or fast-talking salesman on a deal that occurred outside of the company's normal place of business.

The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing that rule to determine whether it should be changed. This is your chance to ask the feds to lengthen the amount of time you have to change your mind, or at the least not reduce it.

You can send comments through June 22 to the Federal Trade Commission/Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex M), 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,Washington, D.C. 20580. You also can submit comments online. All comments should note “Cooling-Off Rule Regulatory Review, 16 CFR 429, Comment, Project No. P087109" on the envelope and in the text.

Did you know that Mt. Hackman senior began Hackman's Bible Book Store by selling Bibles door to door? There's also a lot of money to be made by booking parties while "friend finding" as a Tupperware dealer or manager. However, I would never buy a side of beef from a door-to-door peddler! And, the school kids hit us for every fund raiser. Too bad that doesn't lower our taxes in Northampton. Have a great day!

Posted By: Bonnie Dodge | May 28, 2009 1:06:18 PM

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